This verse literally caused a paradigm shift in my life when I read it as a young Christian! I had wrongly understood “eternal life” to only be an unending time span that would begin after I died and went to heaven. And it is that, but so, so, so much more! Here at the beginning of Jesus “high-priestly prayer” for the church, He gives the true definition of eternal life! Eternal life = Knowing God & Knowing Jesus! And the word “know” in this verse does not mean to know information about God & Jesus. This is a term of intimate, personal knowing! So, it’s not like how I know Abraham Lincoln (information about a historic figure). It’s more like how I know my wife! It’s a love relationship where we actually spend time together and share life together. This is what God wants with you! This is what Jesus came to give us!
PASSAGE: John 17:3 - "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
PAUSE: Most Christians associate eternal life with something temporal, but Christ associates eternal life with something relational. To know Christ personally and relationally is to know and experience life. Yes, we will live for eternity with Christ Jesus, but we can also experience eternal life today!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus. I want to know Christ and the eternal life that he has freely given me. Strengthen my relationship with you.